My Not so Perfect Brother
Journal….
I don't know where to start. So much has happened. It's been over two months since the rebellion. I became the forward and rejoined my friends for late practice. Aniki continued in his downward spiral of returning home late, going out for several hours after dinner and leaving earlier in the morning just to attend tennis practice. Kaa-san and Tou-san let it happen; they didn't know how to respond to this break down of their programming. As for Aniki, it was all done perfectly. His grades didn't slip, and not once did his robotic demeanor crash. Figures. I have to admit the Hacker impresses, well their work impresses me, I could care less for the person. Yes, that's right journal, I met the Hacker. Truly, an experience I could have done without. But that did not happen, and I can't get what happened out of my head, so hopefully, you can help me solve the problem.
It all started yesterday morning. Aniki had left for practice two hours previous, and Kaede and I were finishing our breakfast.
"Kaede, hurry up and finish your breakfast. Ikeda, wait for your sister! Otou-san and I have a business party to attend tonight, so Hiroshi will watch you two. No arguments Ikeda. Kaede you will have to go wait for Ikeda to finish soccer practice. Ikeda walk with your sister to Rikkidai to wait for your brother when you're finished with practice."
"Hai Kaa-san!"
"Seriously Kaa-san! I'm old enough to watch Kaede myself. I don't need Aniki to babysit me."
"Ikeda!"
"Fine! Go by Rikkidai after soccer practice. Don't forget Kaede."
Yes, I know journal, I'm way too old to still need a babysitter! But do they accept that? No. I could hang out with my friends while Aniki babysat! He was two years younger than me when he started babysitting! Hippocrates. Resuming with the events.
Kaede and I grabbed our bags and walked to school. I had to walk slower so she could keep up. But not so slow it seemed we were walking together. It sucked being the only guy in the class who had to walk his younger sister to school and babysit her. Kaede, her sweet self never said anything about the distance. Yesterday, it must have bothered her though, because she jogged to keep up with me.
"It's okay nii-san. You don't have to walk me to Rikkidai after school; I can go wait for Aniki myself. That way you can hang out with your friends."
That was such a tempting offer, but what kind of brother would I be if I made her stay alone with Aniki?
"Kaede. No. It'll be my fault if someone grabs you walking alone to Rikkidai, or if you get lost."
She frowned.
"I know my way to Rikkidai! Plus, I wouldn't walk alone, there are other girls in the class with older siblings at Rikkidai, so I could walk with them."
Sigh.
"Kaede, are you trying to get rid of me? Do you just want to ditch both of your older brothers and go to a friend's house?"
"That's not what I was trying to do!"
"Sure. Stop making excuses."
"See if I try to help you again!"
She dropped several steps back from him pouting. Good. They were almost to the school now. As they entered the gates Ikeda stopped.
"Don't forget to meet me at the soccer field when you're finished with dance."
"I know."
………………………………………
I slipped my soccer bag over my shoulder. A few of my teammates yelled a 'later', I waved. They already knew that I wouldn't be able to make it to the hangout tonight. Komura already teased me about being a good nii-san and taking good care of cute Kaede-chan. Honor demanded I slug him. So I did. Of course that got everyone off on a laughing spree, especially when Kaede wandered onto the stands to observe the practice. Ugh. Why me? Overall, the day sucked. Anyways, I met Kaede standing beside the locker room entrance, and we begin walking off the campus. Neither of us said a word. I didn't even get a 'hello' from Kaede. She really must have been upset about that morning. The entire walk consisted of silence on both our parts, at least until we reached the entrance gates at Rikkidai.
Turns out neither of us knew where the tennis courts were. Any time in the past when we'd come, we had gone to the golf area, so neither of us had a clue where the tennis courts might be. I was willing to walk around the edges of the campus to look for the courts. More time wasted until we met up with Aniki. Spotting a Rikkidai student, I decided he would be no help in giving us directions. Kaede on the other hand seemed to have other ideas because she walked right up to him before I could stop her.
"Excuse me, do you know where the tennis courts are?"
The boy looked down at her surprised. He hadn't seen either of us. I walked up to Kaede.
"Yeah, I might. Why do you want to know shrimp?"
Kaede wasn't pleased by that term anymore than I was and frowned up at him. He stared coolly down at her.
"I'm looking for my older brother. He's a member of the team."
He raised an eyebrow at her. By that time I'd come up behind her.
"Two shrimps, huh. Who exactly is your brother? Maybe I can help you find him."
I tugged on Kaede's arm just as she was about to speak up. I glared at him.
"Don't bother him Kaede, he isn't going to tell us where the tennis courts are anyways."
She frowned up at me, but nodded. As we turned to go to the west of the school, he spoke up.
"Heh. Your going the wrong way, the courts are on the east side of the school. Shrimp."
Reaching out his arm he ruffled my hair to my annoyance. Smirking he passed both of us, heading in the direction we were originally going. Kaede and I stopped frowning at him, but looked at each other considering if we should really follow his advice. I didn't want to trust him, but neither did I want to follow him. Why was he walking around the campus afterschool anyways? Shouldn't he be cleaning or participating in a club? There was no way he was up to good. Kaede tugged at my sleeve, so I stared down at her. She pointed in the direction he had 'advised' us to head in. Frowning, I started walking that way, it couldn't hurt, at least we'd be getting away from him. Turning around the corner of the school, we bumped into someone.
"Kaede-chan. Ikeda-kun. What are you doing here?"
Yep, the someone was Aniki. He stared down at us confused. Had Kaa-san told him about watching Kaede tonight? Why wouldn't she? Kaede blinked up at him unsure of his confusion.
"Didn't Kaa-san tell you she and Tou-san were going out tonight?"
I watched Aniki straighten out, adjusting his glasses. Light reflected off his glasses. I wasn't sure but I think he was surprised.
"No, they didn't mention it. I take it I'm supposed to be watching Kaede-chan then?"
Kaede stared up at Aniki, eyes wide.
"Hai. Kaa-san told Ikeda and I this morning before we left. Maybe she didn't tell you because you were gone? I don't think they'll be home until dinner."
"I see. Did you come here to wait?"
She nodded. Ikeda gazed around bored.
"Ikeda walked me after his practice got out. We got lost because we didn't know where the tennis courts were, but a nice student told us it was to the east of the school."
Aniki was straightening his club uniform. Ikeda recognized that as a clear sign of annoyance. Who cleans when they're annoyed? Healthy people smash stuff.
"What exactly did this nice student look like, Kaede-chan?"
Maybe my feeling about that guy was right. Unusual for Aniki to think suspiciously of anyone.
"He was tall, wearing a sports uniform and his hair was bleached."
"He was lurking, sarcastic and had a fetish for the word 'shrimp'. Probably up to something too."
Aniki stared at both of us as we gave him our descriptions, nodding to himself. I think his fists were clenched.
"Niou-kun! Come here. I know you're hiding there."
Kaede and I gave Aniki baffled looks.
"Heehee. Hey, shrimp!"
Out came Kaede's 'nice' student. He was watching us? What the heck? I settled for glowering at the apparition named 'Niou'. All I got was a cocky smirk.
"Niou-kun what are you doing out here? You were supposed to be at the tennis courts an hour ago. Sanada-san is upset with you. Bucho says he would like to speak with you after practice. He is rather displeased with your lack of discipline."
Niou's smirk fell for an instant before returning full force.
"Why are you out here? Shouldn't you be at the courts? I'm feeling unfairly treated here. How come you didn't tell me you had mini mes? Seriously, Hiroshi-kun! Don't tell me you don't love me?"
The abomination of nature that I refuse to acknowledge as a person, spewed out hanging over a stock still Aniki. I had to act. Going behind Kaede, I put my hands over either side of her ears. Glaring up at the two of them I saw Aniki disentangling the abomination for himself. Straightening his uniform once again.
"Are you going to tell me what you were up to, or wait for the principal to inform me?"
"Hiroshi-kun! I'm insulted."
"I am sure you are. Stop attempting to give my little sister nightmares. If you do not get to practice right away, Bucho told me to inform you that if you are not at the tennis courts at five he expects you to run a hundred laps before morning practice."
"Shit. It's two minutes past five Yagyuu."
The abomination ran off cursing. I was glad I hadn't taken my hands off Kaede's ears. Aniki turned to watch him run off before looking at me.
"I still have another two hours of practice tonight. That was Niou-san. He is often referred to as the Trickster here, and is a member of the tennis club. Would you mind staying and watching Kaede-chan until practice is over? Or taking her with you if you were going somewhere?"
Blinking, I stared at him in shock. Aniki rarely ever spoke to me this much. And he was asking me to watch Kaede for him because of a teammate. It took me a moment to make sure the world wasn't tilting off kilter.
"Sure, we're supposed to stay until you were done with practice anyway. I'm not leaving Kaede alone with 'that' Aniki."
He sighed, nodding.
"Good. Thank you Ikeda-kun. But stay close to her. Niou is…typical…for the tennis team. Actually, keep her at the top of the bleachers farthest away from the courts."
All my willpower was being used to keep my jaw from dropping. Was Aniki really that disturbed by his teammates? Kaede distracted me as she started fidgeting.
"Hai. I'll stay close to her. She'll probably do homework."
Aniki nodded.
"You can let go of her ears now, but beware of the pink haired boy and the boy with uncombed hair."
Three people, three people ! Aniki has warned me to watch Kaede around. Well, I'm aware he has strict manners and expectations, he usually doesn't discriminate anyone. He'll correct their grammar at times. Inform them of a more polite way to go about something, but that's really to be expected. Reluctantly, I let go of Kaede's ears. She glared up at me. Huffing.
"I know what yaoi is Ikeda! Just because you won't let me read the manga doesn't mean it doesn't happen."
I frowned down at her piercing eyes. Aniki, I think, looked at her startled. Does he know what yaoi manga was? Better yet, my imouto is not becoming a yaoi fangirl. The ones at school were more than enough.
"I already told you to stop reading that stuff. It does not happen in really life. And Aniki and that person are not characters from a yaoi manga, so stop fantasying stuff that isn't true. He was just doing that because he knew it annoyed Aniki."
"That is true Kaede-chan. Niou-kun is prone to that kind of behavior. I have to get back to practice, so Ikeda will stay with you until practice is finished. It would be a beneficial time for both of you to get your homework finished."
Kaede and I stared at him. Only he would command his younger siblings to do homework at school. He was already walking past the both of them in the direction of the abomination had ran off in. They stared at each other, before falling into step behind him. Soon they came upon a loud, screaming court full of students running laps and playing tennis. Aniki pointed out the bleachers and Ikeda pulled Kaede over in that direction, walking all the way to the top of the bleachers. 'Niou' had smirked when he had seen them come in. The bastard had lied to them. The courts were in the original direction they were heading, not on the eastside. Kaede sat watching for awhile, before she pulled out her homework.
A taller boy shouted out orders to the other people. Ikeda identified him as the bucho, and the long haired boy next to him as the fukubucho. Most of the club seemed to be practicing swings and running. Ikeda wasn't sure of much in tennis, but he was pretty sure you swung rackets, instead of jogging. What shocked him was when Aniki and 'Niou' started playing tennis against two other tennis members. They were a team? How could Aniki work with 'that'? Aniki was the epitome of order and respectability. 'That' was the essence of disorder and disrespectability. Watching their play, Ikeda knew they were good. How? For the rest of the practice Ikeda watched their actions. The way 'Niou' paraded around the courts, did nothing to disprove Ikeda's earlier conclusions, in fact, it justified his opinion.
Two hours passed in a blur, Ikeda having watched his Aniki and Niou. They almost acted as friends, but that was crazy, since when did Aniki allow that? Kaede had finished her homework in an hour and a half, joining him in watching the practices. So they were both surprised when he came up the bleachers before them, having showered and changed. Getting up, Kaede yawned. She pointed at Niou down below.
"Isn't he going to leave?"
Aniki followed her hand, watching the figure.
"Hai. He has to run laps for being late to practice. There is someone watching him to make sure he completes all his laps."
Kaede nodded, eyes widening. I stared at him curiously. The bucho wouldn't actually make him run a hundred laps, would he? Glancing at Aniki and the two figures below I decided not to ask. We all walked home. Can you guess what happened next?
As we were walking in the house, we discovered all the lights on in the house. The television was on, and Tou-san was reading the newspaper in the sofa chair. He didn't even glance up from the paper when Kaede and I stood staring at him. Finally, we took off our shoes and ran upstairs following the steps Aniki had taken several moments previously. Why were they home? What about the party? I watched Aniki open his door, bag swung over his shoulder and back stiff enter. He shut the door softly behind him. After I threw my bag on the floor I headed downstairs, Kaede had made it done right before me. As I walked to the living room I saw the table set and the food ready. Kaa-san had cooked dinner and was waiting for us to return before eating. Sitting down at the table, Tou-san came in taking his seat. No one said a word. Aniki took seven minutes before coming down the stairs and sitting at the table so we could all have dinner. The rest of the evening went by in a blanket of silence.
Here's my problem journal: What exactly was Kaa-san doing when she told us to go wait for Aniki because she and Tou-san had a party to attend? I think Aniki knows. They never planned to go to a party in the first place, they were just checking to see if their orders were obeyed. It was all one big test. If anyone of us had separated going our separate ways, we would have failed. What do you think they would have done then? Children are puppets in their eyes. Or should I say well programmed robots? Haha. Thinking back, I become more fascinated about how they would have reacted if we had ignored them. Is it worth a try? Maybe not now, I have another six years with them before I can leave. Tou-san and Kaa-san are the type to send their robots away to be 'fixed' when they show signs of malfunctioning, after all.
'Niou' this Trickster of the Rikkidai tennis club; I know I said I don't like him, but I wonder about that. There is this air of impermanence around him, a fight against routine, authority, control. Being the second child, the second son in this family I have the ability to express those qualities, which I do much to Kaa-san's and Tou-san's shame. Aniki and Kaede, the first son and the first daughter, they aren't allowed that freedom I am. Of course, Kaede is young and doesn't feel the full pressure of this yet, but already I see them putting their expectations on her, only she has founds friends outside their control to rely on. She has me to be the disappointment that lightens her imperfections.
Who does Aniki have? There was never anyone to make his faults seem minor; not that he ever displayed them. Now though, now he is making them daily. At least in our parent's eyes that is. Frankly, I and probably Kaede, would be more comfortable if Aniki should more if an interest in human things. Friends. Games. Laughter. Maybe that's why he played so well with Niou; where there is order there is chaos, and where there is chaos there is order. They filled one another's flaws. When the other team had oriented themselves to the orderly play of Aniki, Niou's erratic play would distract them. Niou has to be Aniki's hacker. I'm not sure why he is, but I hope his hacking can rewrite Aniki's program and allow him to learn free will. Then I might not have nightmares about waking up one day and realizing I had turned into Aniki. EHHHHH! Horrific thought.
Anything to Irritate the Programmers,
Ikeda
Sorry for the two and a half months to update! It won't be as long for the next one. Though February is a short month. ;-)
Yay, Niou was finally introduced. Oddly, this chapter seemed more serious than the other chapters. It wasn't supposed to turn out that way, but I think it came out well, all the same. Yes, the plan for this is to be a Platinum fic.
Thanks for Reading.
Please Review.
False Sourires